Teleworking Alternative to Real Estate Practice in Nigeria: Findings from Literature

Abstract

Organisations in different industries across the world including education, medicine, finance, information technology, engineering, amongst others have their workforce engaged in telework as the primary mode of operation. This mode of operation became even more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adoption of telework in these industries is evidenced by the availability of published literature and guidelines. However, similar published evidence on telework as an alternative approach in the real estate profession is very limited, both in Nigeria and globally. It is in this light that this research sought to examine teleworking as an alternative to real estate practice in Nigeria with a view to identifying the tools and techniques applicable for the mode of practice. Via a review of literature, this study investigated the characteristics of telework in three major industries which included: education, medicine and Information Technology (IT). The characteristics identified were: the central use of ICT, remote communication with stakeholders, remote data acquisition and remote accessing and sharing of files. From these discoveries, and through further literature review, tools and techniques such as: Remote sensing and GIS, Property Management Software, Facilities Management Information System, property marketing platforms amongst other, were identified for remote real estate practice. It was however recommended that the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) performs a deeper investigation into the application of telework to real estate practice in Nigeria so as to provide institutionalbacked guidelines needed especially in situations similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.